Japan defender Yuto Nakatomo has told his teammates they바카라ll need to show 바카라samurai spirit바카라 in Monday바카라s round-of-16 match against Croatia at the World Cup. (More Football News)
And they바카라ll need another quality that Nakatomo learned playing for almost a decade in Italy, mostly with Inter Milan.
바카라Coraggio,바카라 Nakatomo said. 바카라We need to play with courage.바카라
Japan is appearing in the knockout stage for the fourth time and still searching for its first win. It rallied in group play to beat both Germany and Spain 2-1 바카라 two former world champions 바카라 but also stumbled to a 1-0 loss against Costa Rica.
Croatia, the smallest country in the final 16 with a population of only 4 million, was the runner-up four years ago against France and finished third in 1998.
Could the third time be the charm?
바카라Why not,바카라 said Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic.
This is Nakatomo바카라s fourth World Cup, and he recalls how Japan led Belgium 2-0 in a round of 16 match four years ago in Russia, but was eliminated 3-2 on a goal scored late in second-half stoppage time.
바카라I have never forgotten,바카라 Nakatomo said, returning to the subject of Japanese samurai warriors as a metaphor for Japan바카라s World Cup campaign.
바카라They try to improve their techniques,바카라 he said. 바카라But if they are scared during the battle they will not be able to use their weapons and techniques fully.바카라
Croatia coach Dalic said his team will be well prepared; they have seen many Japan players in action in the German league.
바카라They will apply the samurai philosophy in their game,바카라 he said. 바카라We will also do our part. We know how important this match is for us. We know who the opponent is. We know their mentality. If we want to go farther we must apply that same standard, that same attitude.바카라
Croatia advanced with 0-0 draws against Belgium and Morocco, and a 4-1 victory over Canada.
The winner Monday faces either five-time champion Brazil or South Korea in the quarterfinals.
